Page 347 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

KOI 345

UNDERSTANDING KOI NOMENCLATURE

Distinguishing between koi varieties can be extremely confusing at first, KOI COLORS
partly because they are referred to in the West by traditional Japanese Japanese descriptions of color are important in koi nomenclature. Some
descriptions, even if they have been bred in other countries. Knowledge of have multiple names depending on the form in which that color appears.
a few basic terms, such as the words to describe the various colors (right)
and the main varieties (below), is a useful introduction to the complex Red “Aka” (red background) Black “Karasu” (black background)
world of koi nomenclature. “Hi” (red markings) “Sumi” (black markings)
Blue “Ai” Yellow “Ki” (yellow)
KOI VARIETIES “Yamabuki” (pale yellow)
The illustrations below give examples of the main koi varieties, highlighting
their individual characteristics. The most popular varieties, known collectively Orange/ “Beni” (orange/red Green “Midori”
background)
Red
as “Go Sanke,” are the Showa, Kohaku, and Sanke. Varieties prefixed with the
term “Hikari” are metallic koi, which have an overall reflective luster, while Brown “Cha” Gray “Nezu”/”Nezumi”
all others are known as nonmetallics.
In addition to the color differences described here, the appearance of Silver “Gin” Orange “Orenji”
a koi is influenced by its pattern of scalation. “Doitsu” koi, for example, may (metallic)
have large mirror scales on either side of the dorsal fin but are scaleless
elsewhere, while the scale type known as “Kin Gin Rin,” or simply “Gin Rin,” Gold “Kin” White “Shiro”
is characterized by the sparkling appearance of the scales. (metallic)
Red-and-
White body White tail
and tail and fins black tail
Kohaku koi have red Sanke koi have red Bekko koi have black Koromo koi are Utsuri Mono have
markings on a white and black markings markings on a white, white with red white, red, or yellow
background. on a white red, or yellow markings overlaid markings on a black
background. background. with a dark pattern. background.

Kohaku Sanke Ki Bekko Ai Goromo Hi Utsuri
Variable red Small Yellow Large
patterning black body Dark black
markings patterning areas
Kawarimono Some white on
White tail tail and fins
and body This group
includes all
Tancho are white Goshiki koi are five- Showa koi have nonmetallic koi not Beni-goi koi
koi with a red mark, colored, displaying red and white represented in other are entirely
ideally circular, on areas of light and markings on a categories, including red/orange.
the head but no dark blue, red, and black background. these two examples:
red on the body. black on a white
background. Hajiro
Tancho Goshiki Showa Hajiro koi are
Kohaku Circular red Dark markings mainly black.
Tancho spot overlap red Large areas Beni-goi
of black

Red tail No markings White tail Hikarimoyo
markings on body or tail This group includes
all metallic koi not
Asagi koi are pale Hikarimuji are Hikari Utsuri are represented in other Hariwake are
metallic silver
blue with red and metallic koi of metallic Utsuri categories, including koi with orange
white areas. a single color. and Showa. these two examples: or yellow
Yamatonishiki markings.

Asagi Yamabuki Kin Showa Yamatonishiki
Pale Ogon
blue Metallic Red markings koi are metallic Orenji
body yellow body have a gold Sanke. Hariwake
sheen

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